Suspected Phelan child molester dies while awaiting extradition

MADRID, SPAIN • A Phelan man awaiting extradition to San Bernardino County for molesting a girl for eight years has died of cancer in a jail cell in Madrid, Spain, officials said.

After Celestino Payan was arrested in Victorville in 1998 for several counts of rape and molestation, he fled the country while out on bail, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials.

Payan, 74, reportedly raped a young girl from the age of 7 to 15, when the victim became pregnant, officials said.

Detectives worked for a decade to locate Payan. With the help of the Spanish National Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, they were able to take Payan back into custody on April 8, officials said.

Payan was scheduled to return to the United States sometime between November 2008 and January 2009, according to authorities.